PostFinance Arena

PostFinance Arena
Sandstein · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	PostFinance Arena
Location	Bern, Switzerland
Opened	1967
Capacity	17,031 (ice hockey)
Tenants	SC Bern
Architect	(original) Hans Marti

PostFinance Arena PostFinance Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Bern, Switzerland, serving as the primary venue for professional ice hockey, large-scale concerts, and conventions. The arena is the home rink for SC Bern and has hosted international tournaments, corporate events, and cultural exhibitions. Located near Bern-Belp Airport and the Old City of Bern, the facility plays a central role in Swiss sport and entertainment, attracting domestic and international visitors.

History

The arena opened in 1967 amid postwar urban development in Bern and the Canton of Bern, during a period shaped by projects like the construction of the Autoroute A1 and civic initiatives associated with the Federal Palace of Switzerland. Early decades saw the venue host Swiss National League A seasons, European club competitions, and appearances by figures linked to UEFA and the International Ice Hockey Federation. During the Cold War era the facility staged events that included delegations connected to the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation and interactions with teams from the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and Sweden. In the 1990s and 2000s it underwent modernization influenced by trends promoted by the Union of European Football Associations and the International Olympic Committee, while major milestones involved agreements with sponsors such as PostFinance and partnerships with municipal authorities of Bern.

Architecture and Facilities

The arena’s original roof and structural design drew on mid-20th-century European engineering practices associated with architects in Switzerland and firms that worked on projects like the Hallenstadion in Zürich and the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona. The building contains a single-tier bowl with capacity comparable to venues like Lanxess Arena and O2 Arena, and includes private suites named after corporate partners such as Swisscom, UBS, and Nestlé. Facilities encompass ice-making equipment supplied by manufacturers who have worked with the IIHF, locker rooms designed to meet National Hockey League and Kontinental Hockey League standards, hospitality zones used by FIFA delegates during visits, and media centers utilized by broadcasters including SRF, ARD, and BBC Sport. Public concourses feature concessions operated by brands such as Migros and Coop alongside merchandising spaces for SC Bern and international touring productions.

Sporting Events and Tenants

The primary tenant is SC Bern, a club competing in the National League and known alongside rivals like HC Davos, ZSC Lions, and EHC Kloten. The arena has staged National League playoff series, Swiss Cup fixtures, Champions Hockey League matches, and friendly matches against teams from the American Hockey League and the Swedish Hockey League. It has also hosted IIHF-sanctioned events and served as a venue for European club tournaments involving clubs such as CSKA Moscow, HC Sparta Praha, and Färjestad BK. Beyond ice hockey, the venue has accommodated indoor sporting events similar to European Handball Federation competitions, exhibitions tied to the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation, and junior tournaments linked to the International Ice Hockey Federation.

Concerts and Entertainment Events

As a concert venue the arena has welcomed international artists and touring productions promoted by Live Nation and AEG Presents, with bills comparable to tours that stop at venues like Stadthalle Vienna and The O2. Artists and ensembles associated with tours across Europe—ranging from rock acts that have played Wembley Arena to pop performers from the charts administered by the Official Charts Company—have performed here, alongside classical and crossover presentations by orchestras that collaborate with the Tonhalle Orchestra and festivals similar to Montreux Jazz Festival. The arena has also hosted entertainment events linked to broadcasters such as Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, award shows reflecting formats used by MTV Europe Music Awards, and touring theatrical productions like those organized by Stage Entertainment.

Transportation and Access

The arena is accessible via Bern’s public transport network operated by Bernmobil, with tram and bus connections to Bern railway station, which links to Swiss Federal Railways, InterCity, and EuroCity services. Road access connects to the A6 and A1 motorways, and nearby Bern-Belp Airport provides regional air links including connections serviced by airlines that operate in Swiss airspace alongside Zürich Airport and Geneva Airport. For international visitors there are shuttle services comparable to those used for events at Stadion Letzigrund, and parking facilities coordinated with the City of Bern and cantonal traffic authorities.

Ownership and Management

Ownership and operational oversight involve a mix of municipal stakeholders, sporting club governance, and corporate partners; arrangements parallel those seen at multi-use arenas owned by city councils and managed by professional venue operators such as ASM Global and SMG Europe. Naming-rights agreements were made with PostFinance, a subsidiary of the Swiss Post, and commercial partnerships include collaborations with entities like Credit Suisse, UBS, and Swisscom. Day-to-day management integrates event programming, facility maintenance, and commercial activities coordinated with the Swiss National League, the Canton of Bern, and municipal cultural offices.

Notable Incidents and Renovations

The arena’s history includes major renovation projects to upgrade safety systems, spectator amenities, and ice-making infrastructure, reflecting compliance with standards promoted by the IIHF and UEFA for international venues. Notable incidents have prompted security reviews involving coordination with Bern municipal police, canton emergency services, and federal agencies; these reviews influenced subsequent upgrades to crowd management, accessibility features aligned with Swiss disability legislation, and fire-safety improvements comparable to retrofits at other European arenas. Significant modernization phases addressed acoustics for touring productions and corporate hospitality suites to align the venue with contemporary expectations for sport and entertainment complexes.

Category:Indoor arenas in Switzerland Category:Sports venues in Bern Category:Music venues in Switzerland